Electrical switching apparatus



Feb. 11, 1930. w. M. scoTT ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16. 1924 3 SheetsSheet INVENTOR ku ma. M

Ai ATTORNEY Feb. 11, 1930. w. M. sco'rT ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 72 INVENTOR 2 ATTORNEY Feb. 11, 1930. w. M. sco'r'r 1,746,319

ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 88 INVENTOR Y 654 XQYQJ i ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT FFIE ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS Application filed August 16, 1924.

My invention relates to electrical switches or automatic circuit breakers for controlling circuits carrying current utilizable for lighting, power or any other purpose.

In accordance with my invention, switching mechanism or automatic circuit breaker mechanism provided with means for restraining the movable contact structure in predetermined position is controlled or actuated by manually operated means comprising an actuating structure carried by and operable from the exterior of a housing which encloses the switching or circuit breaker mechanism and which is held in normal position by structure restrained against actuation to position to release the housing by a latch or equivalent restraining means, preferably disposed within the housing, and operable by a member on the exterior of the housing when that member is actuated to a predetermined position for tripping the switching or circuit breaker mechanism; and more particularly in accordance with my invention, the last named member is a part of the aforesaid actuating structure and serves both to trip and reset the switching or circuit breaker mechanism.

Further in accordance with my invention, the automatic circuit breaker mechanism is of a character which prevents effective or permanent circuit closure during existence of an abnormal circuit condition, such as a double arm or non-closable circuit breaker, and is preferably of the latter type, in which case the actuating structure serves both to reset the circuit breaker and to manually trip it.

My invention resides in apparatus and in features of structure and arrangement and combination of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an illustration of one of the various forms my invention may take, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view, partly in section, and with parts broken away, of apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, with the front wall or door of the housing partly cut away.

Serial No. 732,393.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a portion of the actuating structure and the related housing-locking structure.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of part of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 3, with the housing locking structure in locking position.

F 6 is a fragmentary plan view of some of the parts of Fig. 5 in the unlocked position.

Figs. 7 and 8 are, respectively, front elevational and edge views of one of the members comprised in the housing-lock-control structure.

Figs. 9 and 10 are, respectively, plan and edge views of another member comprised in the housing-lock-control structure.

Figs. 11 and 12 are, respectively, plan and side views of one of the housing-locking members.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a base, preferably of insulating material, such as slate, marble or the like, upon the front face of which is secured a three-pole circuit breaker mechanism utilizable for three-wire direct current systems, for three phase alternating current systems, or for any other system, it being understood, however, that my invention is not limited with regard to the number of poles involved.

Enclosing the switch or circuit breaker mechanism is the box or housing H, preferably of sheet metal, hinged upon the rear housing I by the hook hinge members 2 secured to the housing H and detachably engaging the pins 2 carried upon the top wall of the housing I, the hook members 2 eX- tending into apertures 3. The base 1 is hinged upon the rear housing I by the hook hinge members 4, engaging the pins 2, and secured to the base 1 by the screws 5. Accordingly, the base 1 and the housing H are pivotally hung independently of each other upon the rear housing I, which is secured to any suitable support, as a pillar, wall or the like, by any suitable attaching means, as, for example, the screws 6. Secured upon the rear wall ofthe housing I is the second base member i upon which are secured the upper terminals 7, to which are secured the terminals 7 on the supply or consumption circuit conductors 8, which are led to the housing I through a pipe or conduit 8. To the base 1 are secured also the lower terminals 9, to which are secured the terminals 9 on the consumption or supply circuit conductors 10, which extend from the interior of the housing I through the pipe or conduit 10 Upon each of the terminal members 7 and 9 is pivotal'ly mounted at 11 a pair of lever arms 11, to which is pivotedat 11 a contact 12, electrically connected by the resilient or flexible conductor 13 with the associated terminal member 7 or 9, between which and the contact 12 is disposed a spring 14 thrusting the contact 12 from left toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 1. Co-acting with each of the upper contacts 12 is a contact 15, and co-acting witheach of the lower contacts 12 is a contact 16, thecontacts 15 and 16 being supplemental terminal structure of the switching or circuit breaker mechanism about to be described. The contacts 12, 15 and 12, 16 constitute in effect switches in circuit with the circuit breaker or switching mechanism, of a character described and claimed in my prior application Serial No. 7 07,387, filed April 21, 1924.

The three switch members constituting the three poles of the circuit breaker mechanism are indicated at A, Band C, Fig. 2, and only one of whielrnamely B, is shown in Fig. 1.

Each of these switching or breakermechanisms may beef the structure shown in my prior application Serial No. 496,815, filed August 30,1921, and comprisesthe terminal blocks 17 and 18 having studs 19 extending through the base 1 into the box-I where the aforesaid contacts 15 and 16 are connected therewith. The lower terminal blocks 18 of the breaker poles A and C connect, respectively, to the windings of tripping magnets 20, 20, whose remaining term nals connect to studs 19 extending lnto the box I and to which two of the contacts 16 are connected, whereby in series with each of two of the three poles there isan overload tripping magnet.

Adapted to engage and bridge the terminals 17 and 18' of each breaker mechanism is the laminated bridgin member 21 carried by the arm 22 pivoted at 23 to a bracket or other suitable supportsecured to the base 1. Pivoted .to the arm 22' at 24 is a toggle link 25 integral with the member 26, the link 25 or member 26 being in turn pivoted at 27 to the toggle link 23 pivoted at 29 to a bracket or other support secured to the base 1, the links 25 and 28 forming a toggle for forcing the bridging member 21 into engagement with the terminal blocks 17 and 18. The members 26 of the three breaker mechanisms, A, B and C. are tied together by the transversely extending bar 30, wherebyall the toggle mechanisms and all the bridging members 21 operate in unison.

Secured to the bar 30, as preferably midway of its length in front of the breaker unit 7 B, is the member 31, to which there are pivoted at 32 the links 33, which are in turn pivoted at their lower ends at 34 to the secondary operating lever 35, consisting of two similar members spaced apart, but attached to each other by the integral transversely extend-inc tie members 36 and 37. Themember 35. is pivoted at 23 concentrically with the arm 22' of the middle breaker unit B. Pivoted to the lever at 38 is a latch 39, which may be termed the non-closable latch in the sense that it is the latch which connects the main and secondary operating levers and which is tripped to disconnect said levers upon attempt-ed closure of the breaker mechanism during continuance of abnormal circuitcondition. At its rear end the latch 39 hasthe lugsvor projections 40 and 41 spaced from each other, the lugs 40 and 41 embracing or beingdisposed, respectively, above and below the plate43 attached to the latch actuating mechanism comprising the transversely extending bar 44 carried by arms 45 pivoted at, 46 to the .basel.

Each of the magnet coils 2O co-acts with a core structurehaving the poles 20 with which co-acts an armature 47 suitably p1voted, as at 46, and adapted upon energizationof the magnet to beattracted upwardly, after release of the movable from the stationary suckerelement of the start-delaying device 1), a-ndengage the under side of the bar 44, which causes upward movement of the afore said plate or member 43 and also moves upwardly the tripping member 48, which coacts with the tail of the main latch 49 pivoted at 23 to a stationary housing or bracket secured to the basel and having at its forward enda latch hook adapted to restrain, by engagement with the pin .or roller 50 on the member 26, the toggle in extended position, though somewhat under-travelled, and the bridging member 21 in circuit closing position indicated in Fig. 1.

The latch 39 has the latching surface 51 adapted to thrust against the co-acting surface 52 on the members 53 secured to each other and forming with the attached members and 61, which in the example illustrated are extensions on the single member or piece 62 secured between the members 63 of insulating material, which in turn are secured to the member 6 1, which is pinned to the shaft 65, whose axis of rotation is normal to the base 1 and which has bearings at 66, 66 in the bracket member 68 secured upon the inner side of the wall W and movable therewith.

The shaft and the parts attached thereto are biased toward normal position, tiat indicated in Figs. 2 and l, by a spring 7, the rotation of tl e shaft 65 and the parts attached thereto in either direction from the normal position being opposed by the spring.

Secured to the shaft 65, outside of the wall TV, for operating the actuating and tripping structure comprising the members 60, 61., is the member 69 provided with the operators handle 0.

Pivoted at 71 to lug structure 72 secured to the bottom wall of the rear housing I is the member 7 3 adapted to engage in the slot or recess 7st in the member 75 pivoted at 76 on the lug structure 77 secured to the bottom wall of the housing H. The members 73 and 75 are in effect links of a toggle which in the position indicated in Fig. 1 is overtravelled, thereby in effect locking the housing H in its normal or circuit-broaker-enclosing position in which the lug 78, secured to the housing H inside thereof, abuts against the lower end of the base 1, holding it against the lug 79 secured to the rear housing I. By this over-- travelling toggle structure both the base 1 and housing -l are secured in their normal positions to and with respect to the rear housing 1 and the parts contained therein. The link 75 may be provided with a hole 80 registering with a similar hole in the lug structure 81 secured to the under side of the housing H. A padlock or equivalent, not shown, may extend through the registering holes 80 and thereby lock the housing H in its normal position.

The link 7 5 is provided with a detent or latch member 82, which extends upwardly through the aperture 83 in the bottom wall of the housing H into that housing upon the bottom wall of which is disposed a sheet of insulating material 84, having an aperture 84 registering with-the aperture 83. The upstanding member 85 is secured to the bottom wall of the housing H by the pivot pin 86,

about which the member 85 is rotatable about a vertical axis. The member 85 is provided with an aperture 87, through which is movable horizontally the tongue 88 on the detent member or locking bar 89, which at its opposite end has a tongue 90 slidable in the aperture 91 in the upstanding member 92 secured by rivets 93 in a fixed position upon one end of the lever 94 pivoted at 95 upon the bottom wall of the housing H, and whose pivotal the member 85 and at its other end thrusts against the shoulder 89, the spring thrusting the bolt or member 89 toward the member 92, against which the shoulder 89 engages. The member 89 has the offset locking lug or member 98, which, when in the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 5, engages on theunder side of the hook or latch member 82, thereby preventing rotation of the link 7 5 in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, to break the toggle 73, 75 to unfasten the housing H and base 1.

The forward end 94 of the lever 9% is disposed in the path of travel of the lug 99, inwardly extending at the lower end of the vertically disposed lever pivoted to the housing wall V at 101 within the housing and having at its upper end the inwardly extendin lug 102 disposed in the path of travel of the lug 103 carried by or forwardly extending from the plate 6% of the circuit breaker actuating and trippin structure.

The operation is as follows:

vi ith the structure in the circuit closing position illustrated in Fig. 1, upon occurrence of an abnormal. electrical condition in the circuit, one or tl e other, or both, the electro-magnets will be energized to degree sufficient to attract the armature or armatures 17, as a resultof which the tripping member 45 will be lifted, thereby rotating the latch 29 in clockwise direction, Fig. 1, and releas ing the member 26, and simu taneouslv the tripping member as will engage the under side of the lug 40 of latch 39, rotating that latch in clockwise direction about its pivot 38, disengaging the lug or latch surface 51 from the co-acting surface 52 of the main operating lever 55. [is a result of the actuation of the latch 49 the toggle 25, 28 collapses, and the bridging members 21 separate from their terminal blocks 17 and 18, thereby interrupting the circuit, the final are being taken as usual by the carbon shunt contacts 10% and 105. Upon collapse of the toggle as aforesaid, the member 26 is rotated in countercl ckise direction about its pivot 24:, causing c unterclockwise rotation of the secondary operating lever 35 about its pivot 3, and the latch 39, now disengaged from the main lever 55, is carried upwardly with the lever 35.

The mechanism is reset in circuit closing position by rotating the handle 70 first in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, cans ing the lug 61 to engage the under side of the end 58 of the main lever 55, thereby rotating it in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in ence of gravity, or spring,

to the main lever 55.

Fig. 1, and causing it to approach the lever 86, and finally the latch 39, under the influnot shown, resumes the relative position indicated in Fig. 1, whereby the secondary lever is locked Thereafter the handle 70 is rotated in counterclockwise direction, causing the lug or member 60 to engage upon the upper side of the end 58 of themain lever 55, depressing it, and thereby rotating the lever in clockwise direction, causing rotation in like direction of the co-axially pivoted lever 35, followed by extension of the toggle structure and en agement of the contact members 21 with their terminals 17 and 18, the latch d9, under the influence of gravity, orspring, not shown, re-engaging the pin or roller 50 and restraining the mechanism in circuit closing position. 7

If, during the aforementioned resetting movement, an abnormal electrical condition I obtains in-the circuit protected by thecircuit breaker mechanism, at first closure of the 39, as viewed in Fig. 1, and consequently an automatic disengagement or release of the secondary operating lever 35 from the main operating lever 55, the circuit breaker structure then flying to open circuit position, as

- in the case first described.

With the circuit breaker mechanism in circuit closing position as indicated in Fig. 1, if it should be desired to trip it manually, the operators handle 70 is moved in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, causing the lug 61 to engage the under side of the end 58 of the main operating lever 55, causing counterclockwise rotation of the main operating le ver 55, as viewed in Fig. 1, the latch 39 in consequence engaging, by its lug il, the under side of the tripping member 43, forcing it and the attached latch actuating mechanism upwardly. and thereby causing the tripping member to engage and actuate the latch 49 to release the memb r 26, and simultaneously the member 56, carried by the main op.- erating lever 55, engages the laterally extending lug 57 upon the latch 39, causingdisengagement of the latch surface 51 from the co-acting surface 52 upon the lever 55. The mechanism is now unlatched as regards both latches 4:9 and 39, and the circuit breaker mechanism flies to open circuit position, under the influence of gravity, or spring means,

"-i not shown, operating upon the arms 22.

bers and 61 in either direction from nor.-

mal position, and returning the members 60 and 61 to normal position upon release ofthe' handle by the operator. 7

Assuming the circuit breaker mechanism locked in circuit closing position as indicated in Fig. 1, upon movement of the operating handle 70 in clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3 for causing engagement ofthe under side of the lever '58 by the member 61 to eifect manual tripping of the circuit breaker mechanism, the lug 103, movable with the actuatingand tripping struc ture, actuates the lever 100 in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, causing its lower end or lug .99 to rotate the lever 9a in counterclockwise direction about its pivot .95, as viewed in Fig. 5, inopposition to spring 97,, the member 92, secured upon member 9% thrusting upon theshoulder 89 of the locking bar or member 89, causing its longitudinal movement with respect to the member 85, the tongue 88 moving forwardly through the aperture 87, and the member moving upon its pivot 86 during pivotal movement of the lever '94. The operation described removes the locking lug or detent '98 from beneath the detent or latch 82, as indicated in Fig. 6,.the parts being preferablyso proportioned and'timed in their movements that the lug 98 is free of the latch 82 just afterthe memberfil has accomplished tripping of the circuit breaker mechanism by actuation of the member 58.

Accordingly, the link '75, or any equivalent member of any equivalent housing-fastening or retaining means, is locked in housingand base-locking or retaining position .until the movement for manually tripping the switching mechanism has progressed to a predetermined stage, preferably to the extent of effecting tripping of the switching-mechanism before unlatchingor releasing the member 75 or its equivalent.

After the above described movements of the operating handle 70 and members 100, 94 and 89, upon release of the operators handle 70 the spring .67 returns it to normal position (unless it has been locked in position similar to that indicated in Fig. 3 in which it has accomplished tripping, by a locking member carried by the member 69 and engaging in the wall 1W, as described in my copend-ing application Serial No. 688,323, filed December 29, 1923) withdrawing the lug 108 from engagement with the member 100, which latter and the members 94 and 89 are returned to or toward their normal positions by the spring 9'7, which has previously been compressed by the movements accomplishing withdrawal of the locking lug 98 from the latch 82.

Accordingly, the locking lug 98 will be withdrawn from the latch 82 upon each movement of the operating handle 70 to switch-tripping position. To the lug 98 will be impa "ted a movement in the direction of withdrawal from the latch 82 for each clockwise movement of the handle 70 fr m its nor mal position, including its movement in such direction when eli ecting re-engagement of the main and secondary operating levers and with each other preliminary to resetting this switching or circuit breaker mecha nism after 't has been tripped.

To effect release or untastening of the housing H and base 1, the operating lever must be moved to and held in a position to withdraw the locking lug 98 from the detent 82, and while the lug 98 is so held withdrawn from holding the handle 70 in corresponding position, the link may be rotated in clockwise direction about its pivot 76, as viewed in Fig. 1, withdrawing the now free latch or detent 82 downwardly through the apertures 84 and '81, carrying the link 73 across the dead center position to undertravelled position, the link 73 coming out of the notch or slot T l, thereby permitting the housing H to be swung in counterclockwise direction upon its hook hinges 2, withdrawing the lug 78 from the base 1, which may also then be rotated in counterclockwise direction about its hook hinges 4-, thereby moving the switching or circuit breaker mechanism as a unit away from the rear housing, and opening the supplemental switch or switches 12, 15 and l2, 16.

To restore the base 1 and the housing H to their normal positions, they are rotated in clockwise direction about their hook hinges to the position indicated in Fig. 1, in which case, with the operating lever 70 and the locking lug 98 in their normal positions indicated in Figs. 1 and 5, the link 75 may be rotated in counterclockwise direction about its pivot 76 to the position indicated in Fig. 1. thereby causing the toggle links 73, 75 to overtravel and lock or retain the housing and base in normal position. The link 75, in mo n g to the position indicated in full lines in i 1, causes the inclined edge 82 of the hook latch 82 to engage the left edge or" the lug 9S, forcing it and the bar 89 toward the right, in opposition to spring 97, until the lower end of the inclined edge 82 has passed upwardly beyond the lug '98, whereupon the spring 9'? will return the bar 89 towardethe left, carrying the lug to the locking position 'ndicated in Fig. 1.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact element and means for restraining it in normal posi tion, of a housing enclosing said switching mechanism, a member operable from the exterior of said housing for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact element, means for holding said housing in predetermined position, a member for locking said holding means, and mechanism interposed between said locking member and said first named member for effecting movement of said locking member by and in accordance with movement of said first named member.

2. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member, means for restraining it in normal position and electro-responsive means for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member, or" a housing enclosing said switching mechanism, a member operable from the exterior of said housing for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member, means for holding said housing in predetermined position, and a member for locking said holding means actuated in response to tripping movement of said second-named member for freeing said holding means.

3. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member and means tor restraining it in normal position, of a housing enclosing said switching mechanism, a member operable from the exterior of said housing for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member, means for holding and locking said housing in predetermined position comprising overtravelling toggle members, and a member controlled in accordance with movement of said second named member for locking one of said toggle members against movement to undertravelled position.

4. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member and means for restraining it in normal position, of a housing enclosing said switching mechanism, a member for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member, means for holding and locking said housing in predetermined position comprising overtravelling toggle members, member for locking one of said toggle memaers against movement to undertravelled position, and member on the exterior of said housing for operating said second named member and said locking member.

5. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member and means for restraining it in normal position, of a housing enclosing said switching mechanism, a member for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member, means for holding and locking said housing in predetermined position comprising overtravelling toggle members, a member for locking one of said toggle members against movement to undertravelled position, and a i her on the exterior of housing for actuating said second named member and said locking member to effect tripping oi' said contact member and thereafter the release of said toggle member from said looking member.

6. Thecombination with switching mechanism comprising a movablecontact element and means for restraining itin normal position, of a housing enclosing'said switching mechanism, a member operable from the exterior of said housing for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact element, means for holding said housing'in predeterminedposition, a member for locking said last named means, and an operative connection between said first-named member and said locking member'ior actuating it to free said holding means from said locking member after said first named member has actuated said restraining means.

7., The combination with switching mechanism comprisinga movable contact member, means for restraining it in normal position and electro-responsive means for actuating said means to trip said contact member, of a housing enclosing said switching mechanism, an actuating member for moving said conta'ct member to normal position, means for holding said housing in predetermined position', a locking member engaging and restrainingsaid holding means, and a. member" onthe exterior of said housing movable in one cirection for moving said actuating member to move said contact memher to normal position, and movablein oppo site direction to actuate said locking member to free said holding member.

' 8. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member and means for restraining it in normal position, of a housing enclosing said switching mechanism, actuatin and tripping structure operable from" the exterior of said housing for moving said contact member to normal position and for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member, means for holding said housing in predetermined position, a member for engaging and locking said holding means, and mechanism interposed between said locking member and said tripping structure for effecting movement of said looking member by and in accordance with movement of said tripping structure;

9; The combination with switching mechanism comprising'a movable contact'member and meansfor restraining itin normal position,'of a housing enclosing said switching mechanism, a member for actuating said restrainin'g'meansto trip said contact member, means for holding said housing in. predetermined position, a locking member for restraining said holding means, a member on the exterior'ofsaidi housing for operating said second named member and saidloclring membeuand means for returningrsaid look .ing member to position for restraining said holding means upon release of said member on the exterior of said housing.

10. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member, means for restraining it in normal position, an operating member, and structure detachably connecting said operating member with said contact member, said operating member movable in one direction for moving said contact member to normal position and in a different direction for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member, of a housing enclosing said switching mechanism, actuating and tripping structure carried by said housing in detached relation to said switching mechanism and operable from the exterior of said housing in diiierent directions for actuating said operating member in different directions, means for holding said housing in predetermined position, and a locking member restraining said holding means and actuated with said actuating and tripping structure during its movement of fecting tripping of said contact member to free said holding means. I

11. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member, means for restraining it'in normal position, an operating member, and structure detachably connecting said operating member with said Contact me'mber,vsaid operating member movable in one direction for moving said contact member to normal position and in a difierent direction for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member, of a housing enclosing said switching mechanism, actuating and tripping structure carried by said housing in detached relation to said switching mechanism andoperable from the exterior of said housing in different directions for actuating said operating member in different directions, means for holding said housing in predetermined position, and a locking member restraining said holding means and actuated with said actuating and tripping structure during its movement effecting tripping of said contact member to free saidholding means after said contact member has been tripped.

12. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member, means restraining it in normal position and electro-responsive means for actuating said means to trip said contactmember, of a housing enclosing said switching mechanism, a tripping member carried by and operable from the exterior of said housing for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact'member, means for holding said housing in predetermined position, and a locking member for restraining said holding means, and means operated in timed relation to said tripping memberactuating said locking member for releasing said holding means.

Cil

13. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member, means restraining it in normal position and electro-responsive means for actuating said means to trip said contact member, of a housing enclosing said switching mechanism, a tripping member carried by and operable from the exterior of said housing for act-uating said restraining means to trip said contact member, means for holding said housing in predetermined position, and a locking member for restraining said holding means, and means operated in timed relation to said tripping member actuating said locking member for releasing said holding means after said contact member has been tripped.

14. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member and means restraining it in normal position, of a housing enclosing said switching mech anism, a tripping member carried by and operable from the exterior of said housing for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member, means for holding said housing in predetermined position, a locking member for restraining said holding means, a-lever pivoted on said housing for actuating said locking member, and second lever pivoted on adifferent wall or" said housing controlling said first named lever and operatively connected with said tripping member.

15. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member and means restraining itin normal position,

, of a housing enclosin said switching mech anism, a tripping member carried by and operable from the exterior of said housing for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member, means for holding said housing in predetermined position, a locking member for restraining said adding means, a lever pivoted on said housing and having an operative connection with said locking member, said locking member supported in part by said lever and in part at a point lined with respect to said housing, and an operative connection between said lever and said tripping member.

16. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member and means restraining it in normal position,

of a housing enclosing said switching mechanism, a tripping member carried by and operable from the exterior of said housing for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member, means for holding said housing in predetermined position, a locking memb r for restraining said holding means, a lever pivoted to said housing, members secured respectively to said lever and said housing, said locking member supported by and movable with respect to said last named members, and an operative connection between said lever and said tripping member.

17. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member and means restraining it in normal position, of a housing enclosing said switching mechanism, a tripping member carried by and operable from the exterior of said housing for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member, means for holding said housing in predetermined position, a locking member for restraining said holding means, a lever pivoted to said housing, members secured respectively to said lever and said housing, said locking member supported by and movable with respect to said last named members, a spring engaging said locking nember and said member secured to said housing, and an operative connection l etween said lever and said tripping member.

18. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member and means restraining it in normal position, of a housing enclosing said switching mechanism, a tripping member carried by and operable from tl e exterior of said housing for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member, means for holding said housede .ermined position, a locking memtraining said holding means, a

said housing a member se- :9 member pivoted upon s i u e id locking member carried by cured to said housi:

and movaole with respect to said last named members. aid an operative connection be tween said lever and said tripping member.

19. The combination with a member and a base movable relatively to each other, of means for holding said base and member in predetermined position with respect to each other, switching mechanism carried by said base and comprising contact structure fixed on said base, a movable contact member co acting with said contact stiaicturc an means for restrainin said movable contact member in normal position, a locking member for restraining said holding means, tripping member for actuating said restraining nieans to trip said contact member, and means operatively connecting said locking member with said tripping member for actuating said locking member to effect release of said holding means after said contact memoer b been trioped.

20. lhe combination with a base and a housing movable with respect to each other, of means for holding said base and housing in predetermined pos'tion with respect to each other, a locking member restraining said holding means, switching mechanism carried by said base within said housing and compris contact structure fixed on said base, a movable contact member co-acting with said con tact structure and means for restraining said movable contact member in normal position,

straining means to trip said contact member, and an operative connection between said locking member and said tripping member to actuate said locking member andto free said holding means.

21. The combination with a base and a housing movable with respect to each other, of means for holding said base and housing in predetermined position with respect to each other, a locking member restraining said holding means, switching mechanism carried by said base witnin said housing and comprising contact structure fixed on said base, a movable contact member co-acting with said contact structure and means for restrain ing said movable contact member in normal position, a tripping member operable from the exterior of said housing for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member, and means operatively connecting said locking member withsaid tripping memher for actuating said locking member to efiect release of said holding means after said contact member has been tripped. l

22. The combination with a member, of a base and a housing movable with respect to each other and with respect to said member, means for holding said member, base and housing in predetermined position with respect to each other, a locking member for restraining said holding means, switching mechanism on said base comprising contact structure iii-zed on said base, a movable contact member co-acting with said contact structure and means for restraining said movable contact member in normal position, a tripping member operable from the enterior of said housing for actuating said'restraining means to trip said contact memher, and an operative connection between said locking member and said tripping member forfreeing said holding means upon movement of said tripping member.

23. The combination with a member, of a base and a housing movable with respect to each other and with respect to said member, means for holding said member, base and housing inpredetermined position with respect to each other, a locking member for restraining said holding means, switching mechanism on said base comprising contact structure iii-zed on said base, a movable contact member co-acting with said contact structure and means for restraining said movable contact member in normal position, a tripping member operable from the exterior of said housing for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member, and means operatively connecting said locking member with said tripping member for effecting release of said holding means from said locking member after said contactmember has been tripped.

24. The combination with a member and a base movable relatively to each other,

switching mechanism carried by said base and comprising contact structure fixed with respect to said base, a co-acting movable con tact member, and means for restraining said contact member in normal position, of supplemental contact structure carried by said base and connected with said switching mechanism, contact structure carried by said first named member and co-acting with said supplemental contact structure to constitute a switch in circuit with said switching mechanism, means for holding said base and said first named member to each other,a locking member restraining said holding means, a tripping member for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member, and an operative connection between said locking member and said tripping member. 7

25. The combination with a member and a base movable relatively to each other, switching mechanism carriedby said base and comprising contact structure fiXed with respect to said base, a coacting movable contact member, and means for restraining said contact member in normal position, of supplemental contact structure carried by said base and connected with said switching mechanism, contact structure carried by said first named member and coacting with said supplemental contact structure to constitute a switch in circuit with said switching mechanism, means for holding said base and said first named member to each other, a locking member restraining said holding means, a tripping member for'actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member, and means operatively connecting said locking member with said tripping member for etfecting'release of said holding means from said locking member after saidcontact meme ber has been tripped. l

26. The combination with a support, of a base carried thereby, automatic circuit breaker mechanism carried by said base and comprising relatively fixed and movable contactmemberscarried by said base, means for restraining said contact-members in normal position and electro-responsive means controlling said restraining means to trip the movable contact member, means for holding said base in operative position with respect to said support, manually operable means for controlling said circuit breaker mechanism, and means dependent upon the position of said manually operable means for locking said base-holding means.

27. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member and means for restraining it in normal position, of a housing enclosing said switching mechanism, a member manually operable i'rom the exterior of said housing for actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member, means for opposlng movement WILLIAM M. SCOTT.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,746,319. Granted February 11, 1930, to

WILLIAM M. SCOTT.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 8, line 11), claim 26, after the word "means" insert the words "whose position is"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and scaled this 9th day of September, A. D. 1930.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION,

Patent No. 1,746,319. Granted February 11, 1930, to

WILLIAM M. SCOTT.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 8, line 119, claim 26, after the word "means" insert the words "whose position is"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of September, A. D. 1930.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

